All About Hands and Handwriting Part Two: On the Other Hand
This post is part of a series! To read the previous post, click HERE. To read the next post, click HERE.
August 13th is International Lefthanders Day! Do you have a left-handed child? Many parents worry when their children display left-handedness. You may have heard that left-hand dominance is a sign of a learning disability, health concerns, or a problem due to something you did wrong. Rest assured, in most cases, left-handedness is a normal variation in the human experience.
In this multi-part blog post series, we are exploring how hands work and how occupational therapists and parents can work together to improve a child’s handwriting. Today we’re tackling some of the myths about left-hand dominance and some tips on how to help your left-handed child.
Look for our bonus post “My Life As a Leftie” coming soon! You’ll get to hear stories from two of our very own Better Learning Therapists about their experiences.
Why Are Some People Left-Handed And Others Right-Handed?
Hand preference or dominance is the consistent favoring of one hand over the other for the skilled part of an activity. This is important because a lack of hand dominance results in difficulties performing fine motor tasks. The more a child uses a specific hand for a task, the more efficient the child becomes at that task and the movement becomes more automatic. With practice, the child will demonstrate increased precision, leading to their ability to perform more detailed and complex tasks.
“Scientists aren’t sure what causes left-handedness. Genetics plays a role, but it’s not the whole story.” (Left-Handed Facts and Folklore) Multiple genes along with other factors play a role in passing on this uncommon trait.
How Do I Know Which Hand is Dominant?
Toddlers often switch hands when performing fine motor activities. This is called ambiguous handedness and is seen in young children before they establish hand dominance between three and five years old. In left-handers, this establishment of a dominant hand can take longer.
If your child doesn’t use one hand as their preferred, don’t force them to choose or use one hand. Also, the hand your child holds a pencil or spoon with doesn't necessarily indicate dominance, because children often conform to their right-handed environment. Instead, carefully observe spontaneous actions, such as which hand the child points to things or scratches their nose with. Does your child reach for an item with the left hand when it’s presented on the left? Do they reach for an item with the right hand when it’s presented on the right? Try placing items at midline and observing which hand goes for the object and making note of right or left consistency.
For more information about hand dominance and grasp development, check out our first post in this series: All About Hands and Handwriting Part One: Understanding Your Hands.
Left-Handed in a Right-Handed World
Are Lefties More Creative, Intelligent, And Introverted?
Many left-handed people learn to think and adapt to the world in creative ways. There are many creative, intelligent, and introverted lefties in history and popular culture. However, there is very little in the scientific literature to support the claim that these traits are more common among left-handed people.
Is Left-Handedness A Sign Of A Learning Disability?
Most left-handed people do not have any associated learning disabilities. It is difficult to make any conclusive statements about the link between handedness and cognitive ability. Check out this blog post for more information: Is Left-Handedness a Sign of a Learning Disability?
How Can I Help My Left-Handed Child?
Because only 10% percent of the population is left-handed, they live in a world that was not designed for them. Everyday tasks like handshakes, hugging, or using tools like a can opener, computer mouse, or scissors can feel unnatural for a left-hander. “The world is not a left-handed-friendly place—utensils, scissors, and other items of daily use are designed for the right-handed person. Left-handed people have to think flexibly and come up with ways to use those tools and navigate.” (5 Myths About Left-Handed People We All Need to Stop Believing (and 2 Surprising Truths)
Should I Try to Change My Child's Dominant Hand?
No, you do not need to try to change your child’s dominant hand. The attempt will likely only lead to frustration. If your child is left-handed but is struggling with fine motor tasks, a more effective strategy would be to help them refine their skills with their left hand. Encourage your child to use their left hand as much as possible.
What Can I Do to Make Writing Easier for My Left-Hander?
Handwriting is considered one of the most challenging daily activities for left-handed children to perform. Left-handed people often discover that their writing hand covers what they’ve already written. Additionally, as they write and their arm moves across the paper the child may smear the ink or lead from the pen or pencil. Sloppy handwriting is a common concern among parents and teachers who work with left-handed children. (How to Write With Left Hand |Tips from Real OT Solutions)
A Few Tips
Angle their paper to the right so the child will have a better view of the work
Use loose-leaf paper so the child’s arm doesn’t rub on the wire of a notebook
Mechanical pencils are less likely to smudge than regular pencils
Have your child sit on the left side of the table to avoid elbow bumping
Encourage your child to utilize the right hand as the “helper hand”
Use an inclined surface, like a slant board
Make sure your child knows and can verbalize the fact that they are left-handed
How Do I Avoid Hook Grasp?
One of the common strategies left-handed children use to get their wrist and hand out of the way is a hook grasp. In this grasp, the child bends their wrist forward. This is not an efficient grasp and will cause pain and fatigue as the demands of handwriting increase. To help your child avoid using a hook grasp, encourage them to use the tripod grasp with a straight wrist, holding the pencil about 1 1/2 inches above the tip of the pencil. This will help your child see what they are writing and help proper wrist position, reducing fatigue.
When Should I Consult an Occupational Therapist?
If you’ve tried the suggestions in this blog post and your child is still struggling with slow or illegible writing and hand fatigue, we recommend an occupational therapy assessment to help figure out why your child is struggling. An occupational therapist can collaborate with parents and teachers to make a plan to work on the skills that are missing.
The aim to improve a child’s handwriting is a common reason children receive occupational therapy, which can help improve skills involved in handwriting. An occupational therapist can also suggest adaptive equipment or accommodations to make writing easier for your child.
